Ortho “Total Kill”, and Spectracide “Wasp and Hornet” Spray Reviews

Wasps and Hornets can serve a purpose in the garden, but when their nests appear in doorways, play areas, and vehicle crevices, a fast acting chemical spray to eliminate the nesting insects is a must-have! Big box stores offer a wide selection of pesticide products designed to eliminate the nesting habits of Wasps and Hornets, killing the insects on the nest, and repelling any other insects from nesting in the area once the product has dried. Over the course of the summer I purchased several bottles of each of the following products at varying times and locations, and here are my findings with these popular brands.

Ortho Total Kill brand of Wasp and Hornet Spray is a foaming formula that shoots 20 feet, and claims to kill on contact.  After using this product myself on both Wasps and Hornets, this product not only failed to kill the insects, but it failed to repel them from their nesting site. Both Wasps and Hornets climbed out of their nests through the foam, and continued to hover around the nest making further contact with the nest potentially hazardous to me.  One empty can later, there was no impact at all on the nesting site, and three hours later all the insects were sitting right back where they started. My business used several cans over the course of many months, purchased at different times

Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer boasts a foaming formula that kills on contact, and shoots a 27 foot Jet Spray to keep you at a safe distance while destroying the nest.  I used this product on Wasps, Hornets and Ground Bees, and found that it not only had zero impact on the insects, but the insects were able to sit in the foam unharmed and clean off their antennas.  The foam coats the nests generously, and does cause the insect’s momentary confusion as they find themselves encased in it, but when the foam recedes the insects fly out of it, hover in the area of the nest, and provide you with no safe way to remove the nest without being stung. One empty can later, the Wasps, Hornets and Bees were returning to the nests and waiting for the foam to dry so they could return to their business as usual.

Both products feature an ineffective formula in 2009 on both Wasps and Hornets.  Not only are these products a waste of money, and an ineffective deterrent to the insects they profess to kill, but they cause you to spray up to a full can of chemicals around you home’s exterior that could be more harmful to you or your pets than the insects.

I advise customers to avoid these products this year, and choose instead a stronger product that will kill the insects in a more potent formula that will require less spray overall.  When dealing with stinging insects, especially for those who are allergic to them, a potent formula is worth its weight in gold.  Try Raid Wasp and Hornet Spray as an alternative.